William "Bill" Harrison's Obituary
William Elbert Harrison passed away Saturday April 10, 2024 at home of leukemia. He was 87 years old.
He was preceded in death by his son, David William of Lemon Grove, California, his sister and brother-in-law David and Irene Carlson of Hay Springs, Nebraska, his brother and sister-in-law, Harold and Bonnie Harrison of Pleasant Hill, California, his brother Lawrence Harrison of Williamsburg, Virginia, his sister and brother-in-law Alice Marie and Clarence Madsen of Chadron, Nebraska, his sister and brother-n-law Ruth and David Landers of Ventura, California.
He is survived by his wife, Reba of 61 years, and his daughter Julie Marie, both of San Bernardino, California, and a multitude of nieces, nephews and cousins.
William, fondly known as Bill was born to Robert William and Pearl Estelle Harrison on January 30, 1937 in Crawford, Nebraska. His family moved to California where his Father suffered a heart attack and passed away. At age 7 the family moved back to Nebraska where Bill’s mother taught school in some of the rural schools around Chadron. Bill graduated from Chadron High School and studied one year at Chadron State College.
He then moved back to California and joined the U.S. Navy in November, 1956 where he served until 1960. He was discharged from active service two months early in order to enter Pacific Bible Seminary to study for the ministry. He stayed in the Navy Reserves for two more years while in College, then resigned to pursue studies in flying and maintaining airplanes which he hoped to do while serving on a mission field.
He started his flight training at Meadow Lark airport in Seal Beach, and finished his training at Corona airport, receiving his pilot license, his multi-engine and instrument ratings in compliance with Mission Aviation Fellowship guidelines for pilots serving on mission fields.
While at Pacific Bible Seminary he met and married Reba Bratten in 1962.Their son, David was born in 1965, and Bill graduated from Pacific Christian College (the new name) in 1966.
As he didn’t have all those ratings yet, he took a position as Camp Manager at Angeles Crest Christian Camp and spent five years there, maintaining the camp and providing the necessary to support the summer camps and the winter weekend groups. His daughter Julie was born in 1967.
In 1971 he moved the family to La Crescenta in order to raise funds to go to Chidamoyo Christian Mission in Rhodesia, Africa to serve as a pilot/mechanic for the Cessna 180 that someone had given the mission to use to get to the remote areas of the bush around Chidamoyo Mission. He also helped minister to the 26 churches established by the mission, served as book store manager at one point for the three schools established by the mission, and oversaw the maintenance crew who supported the mission.
After five years at the mission, he brought the family home for a time of reporting to supporters and to see extended family again. During that year away the war that was raging in Rhodesia moved through the Chidamoyo area and destroyed the hospital and caused the mission to be evacuated.
A missionary in the capital city asked Bill to come and preach at his church there while he was on furlough in hopes that the mission would be able to be rebuilt and he would be able to continue work there. But that didn’t happen, and Bill and the Chidamoyo airplane were volunteered to Mission Aviation Fellowship. Bill was able to fly from Harare to help the missions that were still operating in spite of the war, and when the war was over in 1980, he helped fly staff back and forth to some of the missions that were rebuilding and still operating. In December, 1981, Bill and family departed from Rhodesia which, had become Zimbabwe, for the last time, and returned to America.
Commercial flying was not his love, so he found other work. He spent a few years at Bobbitt Memorial Chapel in San Bernardino, California, some years in Mission Aviation Fellowship’s Mechanic shop in Redlands, California, then finished his working career with various Airport Mechanic shops before retiring in 2004.
He preached in the churches in Africa. In America he he served as Elder in various churches, taught Sunday School and sponsored youth groups. He sang in gospel quartets at every opportunity starting as the tenor in a quartet in Chadron, Nebraska while in High School. When first married he sang with a gospel quartet and then with a quartet at the Long Beach First Christian Church, and again at the Victorville First Christian Church. He spent his last years fellowshipping with the Eastside Redlands Christian Church with a wonderful group of caring Christians. Over the years he served on several mission boards: the American Indian Christian Mission in Arizona, the Kulpahar Kids Home and Christian School in India, and the Inland Empire Bible Institute in Colton, California.
He loved the Lord Jesus and tried to show that love to everyone he met.
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